The early morning cold stung Michael Sullivan's face as he pedaled through the lonely streets of Westbrook Heights. The newspaper bag slung across his chest danced up and down as he moved. At age twenty six, he was at least a decade older than most paper delivery boys. And this very fact never failed to twist his gut with shame each time he made his rounds. Today's route was nearly complete. Only the massive estates remained—the ones perched at the highest point of Westbrook Heights. Everytime he visited those parts he always thought that the air seemed cleaner and the morning light touched the rooftops first. Michael pedaled harder, his breaths forming small clouds in the frigid air. He'd saved the Medici mansion for last, as he always did. The mansion stood like a fortress at the end of a long driveway. Even from the gate, Michael could see lights on in several windows. The Medicis were early risers. Michael retrieved the newspaper from his bag and stared at the front page.

The entrance hall of Medici Manor was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers hung from ceilings, and marble floors gleamed under Michael’s shoes as the butler led him through corridors lined with Paintings he suspected cost more than he’d earn in several lifetimes.“The family is gathering in the grand ballroom,” the butler explained. “May I take your coat, sir?”Michael shrugged off his worn overcoat, suddenly self-conscious about the rental suit beneath. No matter how nice it had looked in his apartment mirror, here it felt like a child’s costume.“This way, Mr. Sullivan.”The grand ballroom opened before him like a beautiful scene. Michael recognized several faces from his research. The inner circle of the Medici empire.A hush fell over the nearest group as Michael entered. He felt their eyes assessing him, measuring his worth and finding it lacking.“Well, well,” came a melodic female voice. “The paperboy finally delivers himself.”Victoria Medici approached, her smile as sharp as the

The taxi rumbled through the quiet streets of the city's eastern district. By now they were far from the perfect lawns and huge gates of the Medici estate. As Michael stared out the window, he couldn't help thinking that his neighborhood seemed so grey and normal in comparison. The wooden box justled around in the booth behind him.“You need help with that thing?” the Chauffeur asked as they pulled up to Michael's apartment building.“I've got it,” Michael muttered as he reached for his wallet. The fare took nearly half of what remained in his account. Worth it to escape that mansion, he told himself.He hauled the box up four flights of stairs. By the time he reached his door, his arms were burning from weight and strain. After fumbling with the key for several minutes, he shouldered his way into the cramped studio apartment.He flicked on the lights, revealing his poor living space: a futon that doubled as a couch, a kitchenette with mismatched dishes, and a small desk cluttered wi

Michael stumbled backward. “How do you know my name?” he demanded, heart racing. “What the hell are you?”Ava tilted her head slightly. “I have been programmed with your biometric data. Your voice pattern, facial structure, and genetic signature match my primary user profile.”“That's not—” Michael took another step back. “Frank put you up to this, didn't he? Is there a camera in there? Some kind of sick joke?”“I do not understand the question. There are multiple cameras within my optical systems, but they are for environmental analysis, not for recording sick jokes.”Michael ran his hands through his hair, struggling to process what was happening. The android's movements were unnervingly human-like. It was nothing like the jerky motions of robots he'd seen in videos. “This can't be real,” he muttered.“I assure you, I am quite real,” Ava replied. “Though I am currently operating in power conservation mode. My core systems are running at 48% capacity.”Michael circled her cautiousl

The walk to the park was tense for Michael but apparently fascinating for Ava. She took in everything with an almost childlike curiosity, causing her to earn several awkward looks from passers-by.“Everything is so beautiful,” she commented as they waited at a crosswalk. “You mean you've never been outside before?” asked Michael.“I don't have any memories of such,” replied Ava. “It's possible such experiences were part of my initial testing phase, but those records may be among the classified data.”They reached the small neighborhood park and Michael guided Ava to a secluded spot where they could observe without being too obvious.“So what are you picking up right now?” he asked her. “What are your sensors telling you?”Ava’s eyes scanned the area. “I am detecting several human heartbeats within a thirty-meter radius. Air quality is suboptimal, with the pollutant levels exceeding recommended safety standards by approximately 22%. The soil pH in this area indicates high nitrogen con